Energy Tower sports rare block of vacant space, but it’s filling up

Energy Tower, a 14-story office building at 11700 Katy Freeway with a rare block of empty space in Houston’s tight Energy Corridor market, is getting some new tenants.

Pacific Drilling, Higginbotham Insurance & Financial Services and Q’Max Solutions have signed leased in the 325,826-square-foot building, where 200,000 square feet is still available for lease, according to Poynter Commercial Properties Corp.

“Energy Tower has Building identity signage available for a large tenant,” Kevin Poynter of Poynter Commercial Properties said in an e-mail. “Given that the building fronts Interstate-10, one of the most recognized and highly traveled major thoroughfares in Houston and the Energy Corridor, a signage opportunity like this is difficult to find and creates a tremendous branding opportunity.”

Poynter represented the building owner, FSP Energy Tower I L.P., an affiliate of Franklin Street Properties Corp., in the following deals:

The building, constructed in 1998 at the Katy Freeway near Kirkwood, has been undergoing a renovation program overseen by Hines, the property and construction manager. The work includes improvements to the common areas, a fitness center, restaurant and restrooms, a tenant conference facility, and a new outdoor seating/dining area.

Technip USA, which occupies the recently completed Energy Tower III at 11740 Katy Freeway, previously occupied a substantial part of Energy Tower I before its lease expired at the end of August.

“To my knowledge, Energy Tower’s 200,000-square-foot block of space is the only block of space in the Energy Corridor for buildings of similar quality that is available for immediate occupancy,” Poynter said.